"The New Guy"

Arthur Baskin double checked his watch for what must have been the fifth time in the last couple of minutes. His appointment was at 9am sharp, the garage owner had told him on the phone and he intended on being prompt to the interview. First impressions were everything, after all, and he surely wanted to make a good one. Still two minutes to go. He took a deep breath, let it out, and then straightened his tie. He pulled out the small note pad from his jacket pocket, opened it, and looked at the note he’d jotted on there:

He looked up at the sign on the building which read: Colin’s Garage, then checked his watch yet again. One minute to go. He sighed and began to pace back and fourth in front of the office door. Suddenly, the office door opened and he found himself face-to-face with the owner, Colin O’Brien.

"You must be Arthur," he grinned, as he took Arthur’s hand and shook it.

"Um, yes....yes, sir, I am he...I mean...er...I am Arthur," he stammered nervously. "Arthur Baskin, that is....and I have an appointment with..." he pulled out his notepad again, his hands shaking so badly he dropped it at his feet.

Colin chuckled and shook his head as he watched Arthur quickly scramble to recover the notebook and attempted to read it upside down.

"I’m Colin....the owner of this garage...and you’re appointment is with me," he said, trying his best not to laugh as Arthur quickly shoved the little notebook back in his coat pocket. Arthur smiled nervously and nodded at him. After a moment, Colin chuckled again, then said, "So, are you just going to stand outside my office here – pacing – or would you like to come on in so we can get on with the interview?"

Arthur felt his face flush. "Um...yes. Yes, I would be quite pleased to come in for the interview. Thank you, sir," he replied, still quite nervously, as he walked into the office and sat down on the chair that Colin motioned for him to sit on.

Colin walked around behind him and took a seat on the opposite side of the desk from him. Arthur quietly watched as Colin opened a manila folder that was on his desk and began scanning the job application in it.

"So, Arthur," he asked, after what seemed to Arthur like an eternity, "It says here that until recently you were employed at a clothing store."

"Um, yes sir. At Bollinger’s. That’s in Swanbourne...um...Perth, you know," he smiled nervously, loosened his collar a bit, then added, "I kept their books for several years."

Colin nodded, then asked, "So, Arthur, why did you leave Bollinger’s?"

"It was time, I felt, for a change," he replied, simply.

"Working at a garage is quite a change from working in a clothing store, to be sure," Colin chuckled, setting the manila folder back down on the desk in front of him. "So, when can you start?"

A smile spread across Arthur’s face. "You mean...I’ve got the job then, sir?" he asked, excitedly.

"Yes," replied Colin, adding with a grin, "that is if you can do me one favor."

"Oh yes, anything, sir. Just name it."

Colin chuckled. "Please stop calling me sir. It’s Colin."

"Yes sir...I mean, Colin...." said Arthur, as he jumped up out of his chair and quickly shook Colin’s hand.

Colin chuckled again. He liked this kid – even if he was a bit...different. "So, Arthur, you didn’t answer my question....when will you be able to start work?"

"Well, just as soon as I let my mum know I’ll be moving out, I guess, and I find a place to live." Arthur thought for a moment, then asked, "Could you recommend a place where I might be able to lodge until I’m able to get a place of my own?"

Colin smiled, nodded. "Yeah, I think I might know of just the place. Actually, it’s the only place here in The Glen. Hard not to miss – large white boarding house in the center of town. Steve and Millie’s. Nice folks."

"Thank you, sir...I mean, Colin," Arthur told him, as he headed towards the door to leave. "You won’t regret hiring me, I assure you."

Colin smiled at him. "I’m sure I won’t, Arthur. I’m sure I won’t." he chuckled and shook his head as he watched the little man practically skip to his car – stumbling over a rock or two before managing to get his key in ignition and drive away in a cloud of dust.

TBC...